Montana trial date set in German teenager’s death

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — A Montana judge has tentatively set a Jan. 5 trial date for a 24-year-old Missoula man charged with shooting and killing a German exchange student in his garage.

District Judge Ed McLean said Wednesday Markus Kaarma’s deliberate homicide trial could be moved to December if a larger courtroom became available sooner.

Kaarma is charged with shooting 17-year-old Diren Dede in April. Kaarma argues the shooting was in self-defense because Dede was in his garage.

The judge also told defense attorney Paul Ryan he should reconsider his firm’s announced plan to host a community viewing of the World Cup soccer match between the United States and Germany on Thursday, saying it was not the time to conduct a public relations campaign.

Dede was an avid soccer player.

After the hearing, Ryan announced he was canceling the viewing party.

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